THE CHARGE OF POISINING AGAINST RICHARD BELLEMEY.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XII, Issue 521, 28 October 1867, Page 1

THE CHARGE OF POISINING AGAINST RICHARD BELLEMEY.

(pram the ilelbourue Ar^-us.) Ivicuaiid Bkllemk v, chemist-, who had been triad and acquitted by a coroner’s jury on a charge <>t' having wilfully poisoned his wife, Mary Ann Bellemey, ■vin re arrested, and appeared in the dock at the City Police Court on the 10th inst , to again answer a similar charge. There was not much public interest manifested in (he proceedings, the most important evidence elicite l during the examination being that of Agnes Scuttleworth, a girl aged ten years, I In; girl stated site had been accus’.o red to give lood to Mrs Bel* 1,-niev. Somctim’s gave her brandy mixed .viin wat-r, a’.)"Ut a quarter of a tumbler full at a time. i u:ceased a shilling's worth f,r Mrs Bellemey every dav for about a fortnight belore her death. Never went for medicine. Never saw Mrs Bel* lemev put anything into the tumbler. Mrs Beil uiey was sometimes siek ; site was 100 weak to be got out of bed. Never siw | prisoner give Mrs Bellemey brandy, but. ihe brought her in food once or twice | Witness went for brandy twice a day whilj | visiting Mis Bellemey in Elizabetti-street. : W ent for brandy tuivo or four times in ‘the week. When sent twice a day, witness used to get two sinkings’ worth and one shilling’s worth. Biought the brandy 'in a Lmonade bottle. Two shillings' 'worth nearly filled the bottle. Bought six or seven ss, bottles of brandy duing ■the time. Airs Bellemey was in Elizibeth!street. Brought alo for Mr and Mrs Bel* letney. Prisoner onco sent me for gin. 1 Mrs Bellemey did not keep a servant at tnat time, and that was the reason I was 'sent f>r the brandy. Never went for n ;doctor’s prescription. Mrs Bellemey on • g.ye me a prescription for pills. Bid not see Airs Bellemey write the prescription. iWnile -Mrs Bellemey was in the house tt Roden-.-;reet the prisoner used to go into 'decra-ed’s room. Sometimes he would slut! 1 1 . e door after him. Never saw Mrs ; Be.letney tipsy, but when Bio had had a drop sue vvouid talk funny. This witness [was severely cross-examined, bat her testiimony remained unshaken. l)r Fitzgerald ■deposed that, by the solicitation of Mrs | Bellemey, ho had examined her womb, but found no trace of disease. Suspected ■that she had been drinking, and told her his opinion. S>ho re,died that she had ;taken some brandy, but not very much, disked t.ie prisoner what medicine* had been administered to his wife, and he told me s me prussic acid bad been aJminisjtcred by the advice of Brs Beaney and I Turnbull. Attributed the -vomiting, to iwoleh the deceased was accustomed, to (excessive drinking combined with the : medicines. in cross-examination, Dr. Fitzgerald stated ho considereil prtissio acid and bismuth highly essential medi* ! cities for the symptoms perccptib.a in the 'case ot Mrs iiel.emey. Two drops ofprus- ■ sic acid were sufficient to destroy hie m extremely weak instance.-, and five in ordtn.ry cases. On ttie application of ■ pm-oner's counsel (Mr Jb. L. Smyth), tho . e i.-o was further postponed lor a week, in order to ail’.r,; an opportunity of procur,mg witnc.-scs from Sydney. Tim Bench • refused to accept bail, The further hear* ■ ing of the c.ise was proceeded with on tna j 17th instant, when Mr ai, L, Smyth said t. | jt ~,j £omi.n n licatiou hau been received ■ iirom Sidney . consequently, he would te unable to e..d n.ore tnau a couple of wi • nesses for the defence. Mr Jonn Badeock, :nana ,T er of me Bank uf New South . VV..I s. deposed there was a current account. and a deposit account at the bank nn the name or Mary Ann Baauett. The ■deposit ac'ouut was about £4OO. Declined :to pav the in mry to the prisoner, as he 'had not an order from the woman. This being the only evidence lor the defence, the Bench, aiter a sn s-t consideration, cx« ■ pressed an opinion that s prima facte had ncen made out, and committed the pri,'soner for trial. The prisoner was admitted do bail in two sureties of £250 each. ■|B fore the sureties were forthcoming, tho . I Bench reversed their decision, and refused jto accept bonds.